Many gambling addicts will tell you that it’s not the opportunity of winning a fortune that keeps them chronically hitting for another card, rolling another pair of dice, watching another little ball go round and round until it stops on the red or the black. It’s the thrill of losing …
Read More »Tilda Swinton Calls Out 'War Criminals' During Award Speech on Political Extremism
Tilda Swinton spoke out against “war criminals,” political extremism, and “internationally-enabled mass murder” during her acceptance speech for a lifetime achievement award at the Berlin Film Festival in Germany on Thursday. Per Variety, as Swinton accepted the festival’s Golden Bear award, she said that “state-perpetrated and internationally-enabled mass murder is …
Read More »'The End' Is About Mankind Facing Certain Doom. Its Director Hopes It Inspires You
Joshua Oppenheimer wasn’t planning on making his narrative feature debut about the end of the world — and he certainly didn’t think it would be a musical. And yet, eight years after the idea popped into his head, at last his bold opus has come to the big screen, ready …
Read More »'The End': The Most Bizarre Musical of the Year Is A-song-calypse Now
A work of profound optimism, an ambitious mishegas staring into the abyss, an experimental theater piece trapped on film, the most bizarre musical of the year in an annum filled with strong contenders for that title — this is only the beginning of possible descriptions for The End, Joshua Oppenheimer’s …
Read More »With 'Problemista,' Julio Torres Wrote a Dark Fairy Tale. Tilda Swinton Brought It to Life
When Tilda Swinton first got the script for Problemista, she wasn’t sure what to make of the character Elizabeth, who the film’s writer-director-star Julio Torres was hoping she would play. Set in New York City, Problemista tells the story of Alejandro, a Salvadorian immigrant who is desperately navigating the brutal …
Read More »'Problemista' Reminds You Why Tilda Swinton Is God
You don’t have to work in media or the fashion industry to know a Miranda Priestly type. You don’t need to be a fairy princess to have encountered a Maleficent or two in your day. And you don’t need to be familiar with the NYC art world — or for …
Read More »How David Fincher Turned 'The Killer' Into a Mean, Lean Punch to the Gut
The man is a consummate professional. In the outside world, he could be anyone — just another ridiculous looking dude somewhere between the ages of 32 and 48, the everyguy in line behind you at an Ace Hardware store or in front of you at McDonald’s. But sitting here, in …
Read More »David Fincher's 'The Killer' Misses the Mark
Ten years ago, The Criterion Collection dropped a dual-format edition of Charlie Chaplin’s City Lights. Included amongst its special features is behind-the-scenes footage of Chaplin forcing his co-star, Virginia Cherrill — a socialite the filmmaker spotted at a boxing match — to act out the scene of her blind flower …
Read More »Oscar Winners Keep Popping Up at Glastonbury as Tilda Swinton Performs With Max Richter
Cate Blanchett wasn’t the only Oscar winner taking the stage at Glastonbury: The morning after the Tár star appeared alongside Sparks, fellow actress Tilda Swinton popped up during Max Richter’s set at the U.K. festival. As she did nearly 20 years ago, Swinton once again delivered the spoken word readings …
Read More »Wes Anderson's 'Asteroid City' Has Sharply Divided Cannes
Imagine you’re a filmmaker, and you’ve assembled a dream cast of A-list stars, crack character actors, and your usual stock company of famous faces. Your production-design team has gifted you with a set that’s evocative of a 1950s Southwestern desert landscape, complete with Monument Valley vistas and Route 66 iconography. …
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